Ammeter



F. W. KAISLJNG, JR

AMMETER Filed 0G12:v 25 1919 Patented @et 23, 1923.

,STATES .FRANK WILLIAM KAISLING, JR., OF CHICAGO. ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO KELLOGG' tenete earner orties.

SNITUHBOARI) AND SUIPLY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CGRPORATION 'OF ILLINOIS.

AMMETEB.

Application led October 25, 1919. Serial No. 333,352.

To all wh om z' may concern Be it known that I, FRANK IILLIAM KAIS- LING, Jr., a citizen or" the United States o't America, residing in Chicago, county of book, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ammeters, ot which the following is a specitica-tion.

My invention relates in general to devices for visualizing the direction flow of current in an electrical circuit, and for measuring the amount of current flowing in the circuit, such devices being commonly known as ammeters. The device ot my invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with ignition and lighting circuits or" an automobie or the like. I do not, however, wish to be limited to this particular use of my device, as it is at once apparent that my device may be connected in any circuit when it is desirable to know the direction flow ot current, and also the amount of current flow.

It is the obi ect ot my invention to produce an improved device of this class which will embody desirable Jfeatures and advantages in a simple, efficient and economical manner, and to the accomplishment of this object and such others as may hereinafter appear, the

invention consists of the novel details of construction of parts, and combination of parts described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now more particularly tothe device of my invention in the accompanying drawing which illustrates my device in the several. views, and in which like reference characters in the several views denote like parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a 'iront view of the device of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view ot Fig. 1, showing the terminals;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the device with the cover and indicating dial removed;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the device similar to that ot' Fig. 4, but with parts broken away to more clearly illustrate the structure;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing the supporting means for the indicator;

Fig. -7 is a sectional viewV of one of the terminal posts. showing its construction Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the current receiving coil unit.

Referring now more in detail to my invention as illustrated, it comprises a shallow-cup shaped mounting plate 2, upon which the operating mechanism of the device is mounted, and a cover or cap 3 'for enclosing and protecting the mechanism. A pair otterminals 4 and 5 are provided, both being similarly constructed and by describing terminal 4, the construction ot terminal 5 will be readily apparent. The terminal 4 is provided with a threaded shank 6 which passes through the plate 2 and is insulated therefrom by means oit a pair ot insulation washers 7 and S, and an insulating bushing 9. To prevent the terminal from rotating, the terminal 4 is provided with a hexagonalshaped portion 10 which rests in a hexagonal-shaped depression 11, and the insulation washer 7 is in the form ot a hexagonal cupshaped member and rests in the hexagonalshaped depression 11 between the portion 10 ot' the terminal 4 and the plate 2. A. clamping nut 12 is provided and has screw-threaded engagement with the threaded portion 6 of the terminal, which nut 12 securely clamps the terminal 4 to the plate 2.

i thin strip of sott iron forms the core 13 and is secured to the circularly-shaped permanent magnet 14 by means ot the bolt 15, which passes through a suitable opening in the circularly-shaped permanent magnet 14, and a nut- 16, which has screw-threaded engagement with the said bolt 15 secures the core 13 to the magnet 14. A coil C, which is adapted to receive current, the direction of flow ofwhich is to be indicated by the rotating member M, is shaped asillustrated in Figure 8 by means of a shearing and torming operation in which the parallel ribbon conductor strips 17 are alternately formed in opposite directions from their centers to form a central openino" 18 through which the core 13 is slipped, the said core 13 being suitably insulated by means of a thin rectangular tube oi' insulation 19. rEhe ends 2O and 21 oi" the coil C are provided with suitable openings 22 and 23, which permit the ends 20 and 21 ot the coil C to be slipped over the threaded portions 24 and 25 of the terminals 4 and 5, the said ends 2O 'and 21 resting against the hexagonal-shaped portions 10 of the terminals 4 and 5. The .permanent magnet 14 is provided with suitable openings 26 of a size to receive the insulation bushings 27, the said bushings .27 being provided with openings of.. .a size. to receivev the. .threaded portions24 and'25of the terminals 4 andV 5. Insulation Washers28 are placed between the terminal ends and 21 and the permanent magnet 14, saidb-ushings 27 and Washers 28 `suitably insulating the magnet 14 from the termina-ls 4 and 5. Nuts 31 are provided, Which have screw-threaded engagement f with the threaded portions 24 and ,'25 of the terminals 4 and 5, and insulation Washers 32 y land ymetalWashers 33,-are piacedfbetween the magnet 14 and 4the nuts-31, .the said nuts 31 securing the coil C to the terminals `4.and

.5; also permanently supporting the permaynent magnet 14. y

@A .rotatableVY sha-tt .36 `-or lpivotally supporting the armature37 and lan indicator needle. 38 Vare :p-rovided,.iand to'secure the @armature 37. and'needle38 to the'shatt36, I provide ,a @shouldered :sleeve 39. The -gsleeve .39 .is provided with van lopening vslightly smallerithan: the shaft 36 so that it :can ibertorcedupon thesliait 36 to fhold the armature 37 and needle 38 in position upon 37 and indicator needle 33, as a Whole, in

place between the legs or pole pieces 40 and y41 ofthe permanentmagnet'l/I, I provide a UA-shaped member 42 which is secured to Vtlie-bott.olrr1:surfaces of the-pole pieces 40 fand 41 by :meanslof the bolts43and 44, which bolts pass through suitably aligned openings in the legs 40 and 41 of magnet 14 and-in..the U-shapedineniber 42. Lock nuts 45 and 46 having screw-threaded engagement' With theybolts `43 a-nd l44 `clamp t-he U-shaped ymember :42 in position. To permit the mounting of theUshaped supportingmem-ber 42, I provide a rectangular shaped depression 30 -in the mount-ing plate f l2 of a depth slightly greater than the height of member42. p

A suitable depression or 'bearing point 47 centrally vlocated with reference to thek vpole pieces140 and 41 isformed in the member 42 i-ntowvhi'ch the pointed end 36' of the shaft36 rests, thus forming a bearing for one end of the zshatt36." The other end .3562 of lthe shatt36 "is provided With 'a pointed I end andr rests 2in :depression '48 :in: anadjzustablebri-d-ge plate 49,5 thus formfingthe other bearing :fort-he shaft S36. The bolts 43and I44 'receive -nuts50 and 51;.tvhich "-:nuts .fh-ave screw-threaded engagement with .the bolts-.143-1aaid 44. f'llheplate 49 may be -iadgrustediruphangle/down?:byrgnewflsiofthe Hats 50 and 51 to properly adjust the shaft 36 inthe bearings47 and48, andivhen this adjustment is Secured, the nuts 52 and 53 which have Screw-,threaded with the bolts 43 `and V44 are Vtightened. to clamp the bridge plate 49 in position. A dial plate is provided and Vis secured to studs 66 and 67 by means of nuts 68 and 69, which nuts have screw-threaded engagement with the threaded ends of the studs 66 and 67, the said studsfbeing suitably'secured to the mounting plate 2. 'A card 70 is'suitably .fastened to the dial plate 65`by "means of the nuts 68 and 69 and is gradu- :current is fioiving that iis passi-ngthrough the instrument. The indicator needle or provided with anopening 72 beloiv'fivhich held in rplace by meansof f adspring 'ring 7 4.

`When the lcover is in place, the dial'may be readily read through'the transparentmember 73. Y

Having described the various partsV of'lny device, I willnovv describe its function rvand use. Assuming that the instrument is'used in connection With an ignition and lighting Vcircuit ottanautornobile, it isV so connected in circuit that current Will'flow through the coil C in one direction if the generator is charging thestorage battery, and in the opposite direction if the storage l`battery is supplying current 'to the' operating circuits. The legs or polepieces 40 and 41 'of perma nent magnet 14 are in thesame plane as the fiat elliptical-shaped armature 37, asis also the free end of the core 13. The `armature 37 beingelliptical its greatest"Widthy lies in the magnetic field created by; the pole pieces-40 and v41 ofthe permanent magnet 14, thus when no vcurrent is flowing through the coil C, the indicator needle 33 points 'to Zero. Should current novvpass through the coil C in one direction, if the generator is charging the storage battery, the core '13 engagement pointer 38 is carriedvabove this "dial-and oscillates `back and' 'forth asvthe current is :increased and decreased. The vcover "351s .transparent covering V73,"isuch as'glass,"is placed, the said glass covering 73vbe1ngV Will be magnetized. The field created by the energization of the core lorf'magnet '13 Well understood, and this movement of the a'ge battery is 'being charged, and the graduations on 'the' dial '70'indicateto what extent it is being ehargedf"Thestrongerthe vivill'causethe'armature 37 to rotate, as is f fieo l field s et 'up bythe 'magnet`13, the greater 25' the 'de'iiection for v'the l` indicator:Sneedle NoW, should a'l'eu-rrent pass'tlirough-the coil "in a Vdirectionr opposite" to'fthatfjust .de "scribed, l"the armature r 37 "fivillrotate inl` lthe op p osite' direction, as *is -{W'ell understood,

causing the indicator` needle 38 to move to the right and the graduations on the dial face 70 will indicate that the storage battery is supplying current to the operating circuits and the amount being supplied thereto.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the application and functions o the device ot my invention will be readily understood without illustrating or describing circuit arrangements in detail.

In illustrating my invention I have chosen a preferred form, but it is to be understood that many changes and modifications thereof may be made and I, theretore, do not wish to be limited to the exact structure as shown, but aim to cover all such changes and modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Iatent, is

1. A device of the character described including a mounting plate, a non-continuous ring-shaped permanent magnet secured thereto, a coil comprising integrally formed parallel strips alternately displaced to form a central opening supported by said mounting plate, a pair of terminals for said c'oil secured to said plate, a flat core extending through said central opening and having its one end secured to said permanent magnet and its other end restingbe'tween the tree ends of said permanent magnet, a pair of bridging members secured to the free ends of said permanent magnet, an armature pivotally secured between said bridging members and adapted to be acted upon by said core when current is passing through said coil, adjusting means for adjusting one ot said members relative to said pivotally supported armature, and a cover cap Jfor engaging said mounting plate to enclose the various parts of said device.

2. A device of the character described including a mounting plate, a non-continuous cylindrically shaped permanent magnet secured to said mounting plate, a coil comprising a plurality of fiat strips integrally formed out oi a piece of flat material, said strips being alternately displaced relative to the main portion of said flat plate, thereby forming a central opening, a flat core for engaging said central opening to form an electromagnet, one end of said core being secured to said permanent magnet and its other end extending between the tree ends of said permanent magnet, a pair ot terminals for said coil, said terminals securing said coil in its operative position, a pair of members secured to the free ends of said permanent magnet, each of said members having a depression, a pivot pin having an armature secured thereto for engaging said depression in said members, said pivot pin retaining said armature in position whereby the same is acted upon by said permanent magnet and by said flat core when current is passing through said coil, adjusting means for adjusting one of said members relative to said pivot pin, and a cover cap for enclosing the different parts of said device.

3. In a device of the character described including a mounting plate, a non-continu ous ring-shaped permanent magnet secured to said plate', a flat current-carrying conductor having parallel ribbon conductor strips alternately formed in opposite directions to form a flat conductor provided with a central opening, said conductor being secured to said mounting plate, a flat core for engaging said central opening and secured to said plate by means of a screw, a pair of terminals secured to said mounting plate and insulated therefrom in a manner to prevent rotation of said terminals, said conductor being electrically connected to said terminals, an angularly shaped bridging member for engaging said angularly shaped plate and secured to the free ends of said permanent magnet by means of bolts, another bridging member associated with said iirst bridging member and secured in place by said bolts, a pivot pin having an armature secured thereto and pivotally supported between said bridging members and also between the free extremities ot said permanent magnet and in close proximity ot the free end of said fiat core controlling the actuation of said armature, adjustable means for adjusting one of said bridging members relative to said pivot pin, and a cover cap for enclosing said device secured to said mounting plate.

Signed by me at Chicago, in the county of 

